What is ABS? Properties, temperatures and uses

Short answer

Does the part need to withstand heat, impact and hard use, and do you have a printer with a heated bed? Then ABS is a strong choice. If you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA, and if you need moisture and chemical resistance without an enclosure, PETG is often easier to work with.

What is ABS? The short answer

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a tough, impact-resistant filament that handles higher temperatures than PLA and PETG. It is often used for functional parts and in industry. It needs a heated bed and ideally an enclosed printer, because the corners tend to lift (warping).

ABS

Tough & heat-resistant

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Best for: Functional parts, housings & parts that get hot

Impact-resistant & tough
Withstands higher temperatures than PLA and PETG
Can be post-processed and sanded
Proven in industry

Things to consider

Needs the right conditions

Heated bed & enclosure

Less suited to: Beginners & open printers in draughty rooms

Warps more easily than PLA and PETG
Needs a hot bed (90–110 °C)
Benefits from an enclosed space
Good ventilation recommended

Rule of thumb: Does the part need to withstand heat, impact and hard use, and do you have a printer with a heated bed? Then ABS is a strong choice. If you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA, and if you need moisture and chemical resistance without an enclosure, PETG is often easier to work with.

Advantages and what to bear in mind

Impact-resistant & tough. Withstands higher temperatures than PLA and PETG.

Can be post-processed. Sandable and proven in industry.

Warps more easily than PLA and PETG. Needs a heated bed (90–110 °C) and ideally an enclosed printer. Keep the room well ventilated.

ABS in practice

ABS prints hot, at 230–260 °C with a bed temperature of 90–110 °C. The hot bed is needed because ABS shrinks as it cools, and that shrinkage can make the corners lift off the bed. An enclosed printer that keeps the heat even around the print makes a big difference. Print a little slower, around 40–90 mm/s, so the layers have time to bond properly. We go through fixing warping step by step in How to print ABS.

With the right settings, ABS gives you strong, tough parts. You can also sand, finish and glue it, which helps when the part needs to look finished.

According to our data sheets, ABS has a tensile strength of 60 MPa and an elongation at break of 34 percent, so it can bend a fair way before it snaps. That toughness makes ABS impact-resistant, and it copes well with repeated loads. Its density is low, 1.04 g/cm³, so finished parts are relatively light.

The biggest advantage of ABS over PLA and PETG is its heat resistance. That makes the material suitable for parts exposed to heat, for example in vehicles or near electronics. If you want similar toughness but better UV and weather resistance outdoors, ASA is a natural alternative.

Technical data

The table summarises the key figures from our data sheets, with PLA as the reference. Exact values may vary slightly between colours and variants.

Nozzle temperature (ABS / PLA) 230–260 °C / 190–220 °C

Bed temperature (ABS / PLA) 90–110 °C / 40–65 °C

Print speed (ABS / PLA) 40–90 mm/s / 40–90 mm/s

Tensile strength (ABS / PLA) 60 MPa / 63 MPa

Elongation at break (ABS / PLA) 34 % / 5.2 %

Density (ABS / PLA) 1.04 g/cm³ / 1.25 g/cm³

Diameter / tolerance (ABS / PLA) 1.75 mm ± 0.02 / 1.75 mm ± 0.02

When should you choose ABS?

Vårt ABS filament finns i flera varianter, inklusive transparent samt carbon fiber och glass fiber för extra styvhet, till ett lika förmånligt pris som resten av sortimentet. Vill du jämföra med de enklare materialen kan du läsa PLA vs PETG, PETG vs ABS eller ASA vs ABS.

→ Choose ABS

When the part needs to be functional, withstand heat, and cope with impact and hard use. Housings, brackets, parts near heat sources and prototypes that will be post-processed. Provided you have a printer with a heated bed.

→ Choose something else

If you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA. If you need moisture and chemical resistance without an enclosure, PETG is easier to work with. If the part will be outdoors, ASA is better for UV and weather.

Frequently asked questions about ABS

Why does ABS warp?

ABS shrinks as it cools, and uneven cooling makes the corners contract and lift off the bed. A hot bed (90–110 °C) and an enclosed printer that keeps the heat even cut the problem down a lot.

Do I need an enclosed printer for ABS?

It is not strictly required, but it is strongly recommended. An enclosed printer keeps the temperature even around the print, so you get less warping and fewer failed prints. Make sure the room is well ventilated too.

Is ABS stronger than PLA?

In pure tensile strength they are close (ABS 60 MPa, PLA 63 MPa according to our data sheets), but ABS is considerably tougher, with an elongation at break of 34 percent against PLA's 5.2 percent. That makes ABS more impact-resistant and better for parts exposed to knocks and heat.

ABS or PETG?

PETG is easier to print and needs no enclosure, while also resisting moisture and chemicals well. ABS withstands higher temperatures and can be post-processed. If the part needs to handle heat, choose ABS; if you want an easier print, choose PETG.